Heat exchanger



May 17, 1966 M. B. GARDNER, JR 3,251,401

HEAT EXCHANGER Filed May 11, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN 'E NTOR. MARVIN B. GARDNER,JR.

ATTORNEY y 7, 1966 M. B. GARDNER, JR 3,251,401

HEAT EXCHANGER Filed May 11, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. MARVIN B. GARDNER, JR.

WJMM} U 2 U U 3 .arraawsr May 17, 1966 M. B. GARDNER, JR 3, 5 ,401

HEAT EXCHANGER Filed May 11, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 1| hll hullull INVENTOR. MARVIN B. GARDNER, JR.

ATTORNEY May 17, 1966 M. B. GARDNER, JR 3,251,401

HEAT EXCHANGER Filed May 11, 1964 v 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 SHROUD TUBE BUN BUNDLE FIG:

STACK SHROUD BUNDLE HEATED PROD.

INVENTOR. MARVIN B. GARDNER, JR.

MW/$ M) ATTORNEY Y 7, 1966 M. B. GARDNER, JR 3,251,401

HEAT EXCHANGER Filed May 11, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet s FIG: /3

HEATING FLUID HEATED PRO BACK FLOW SHROUD 72 TUBE BUNDLE COLLECTOR BOX 7; 74 74 o T o I l 4* o o INVENTOR. MARVIN B. GARDNER JR W/why ATTORNEY United States. Patent 3,251,401 HEAT EXCHANGER Marvin B. Gardner, Jr., Roselle Park, N.J., assignor to The M. B. Gardner (30., Inc., Roselle Park, N.J., a corporation of New Jersey Filed'May 11, 1964, Ser. No. 366,551 16 Claims. (Cl. 165-1) This invention relates to heat exchangers, and more particularly to method of and apparatus for indirect heat interchange between a fluid to be changed in a chamber, and a changer fluid which is passed in a separate path through the chamber, and the changed fluid is withdrawn from the chamber.

The main object of the invention is to provide a confined zone of heat interchange within the chamber, and pass the respective fluids through separate paths in said confined zone, employing thermosi'phon action in said confined zone to circulate the fluid to be changed, and withdrawing the changed fluid at increased velocity to accelerate the heat interchange action.

A further object is to provide an elongated confined zone having a higher end and a lower end, and to withdraw the changed fluid intermediate the ends to draw the fluid to be changed from said chamber into both ends of such confined zone.

According to .the present invention, the temperature of a fluid in a chamber is changed by passing fluid from said chamber into one end of an elongated cylindrical confining surface and through channel means therein toward the other end thereof, passing changer fluid through passage means inside said confining surface separate from said channel means, said confining surface having a lower end and a higher end, employing thermosiphon action to cause flow of the fluid being changed along said channel from one end toward the other of said confining surface, and withdrawing changed fluid from said channel means intermediate the ends of said confining surface, and thereby drawing fluid from said chamber into both ends of said confining surface.

The confining surface is preferably an outer tubular shell, which contains substantially parallel tubes therein forming said passage means and said channel means. The fluid to be changed may he gas such as air, or liquid such as water, oil, solutions or emulsions. The changer fluid may be gas such as steam or refrigerant, or liquid 'such as water or oil.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a vertical section through apparatus ac cording to, and for carrying out the method of, the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a similar section through a modification;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged detail'view of the reverse side of the heat exchanger shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a detail of the core employed in FIG- URE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a similar view of a modified core;

FIGURE 6 is an end view looking in the directionof the arrows 6-6 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 7 is a detail perspective view of a return bend and finned tubes employed in FIGURE 6;

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged detail view of theheat exchanger employed in FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 9 is a transverse section taken along the line 9-9 of FIGURE 8;

ice

FIGURE 13 is a plan of another modified apparatus; 7

and

FIGURE 14 is a section through the tank and elevation of the heat exchanger shown in FIGURE 13.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention as shown,

in FIGURE 1, the fluid 10 to be changed is No. 6 fuel oil, which is contained in a tank 12. Mounted in the lower portion of the tank 12 is an outer tubular shell 14 supported in inclined position by a shorter leg 15 and a longer leg 16. A plurality of substantially parallel tubes 18 are mounted inside the shell 14. The tubes are preferably flat coils connected to an inlet manifold 20 and an outlet manifold 22 and having return bends 24 therebetween.

The changer fluid is preferably steam which enters the inlet manifold 20 through a valve 26 and is vexhausted from the outlet manifold 22 through a valve 28. The tubes 18 thus form passage means for the changerfluid, and the space between the tubes and the shell 14 forms channel means for the fluid to be changed. The inclined outer shell is provided with an outlet 30 intermediate the ends thereof.

In operation, when the valves 26 and 28 are open, the steam heats the fuel oil and causes a thermosiphon action in which the oil from the tank 12 enters the lower end of the inclined outer shell 14 and flows upward along outside the tubes and inside the shell and passes out the upper end of the shell into the tank. After such preheat, suction is applied to the outlet 30. This draws the oil in at both ends of the shell 14. Thus the flow in at the bottom of the shell is parallel to the thermosiphon action, while the flow in at the top is counterflow to the thermosiphon action. I

As shown in FIGURE 3, the tubes are arranged about a core which comprises a pair of cylinders 32 and 34 connected by a rod 36, which spaces the cylinders apart to form a manifold for the outlet 30.

In the form shown in FIGURE 5, the core is a one piece cylinder 38 which has inlet slots 40 spaced intermediate the end of the shell. With this construction either end of the core cylinder forms the outlet for the changed fluid, and the shell outlet 30 is omitted.

As shown in FIGURES 6 and 7 the tubes maybe provided with fins 42 which may be solid, but preferably perforated with holes 44 as shown in FIGURE 7 to in: crease the heat transfer rate.

'In the form shown in FIGURES 2, 8, 9 and 10, the shell is provided with tube sheets 46, 47, 48 and 49, so that the fluid to be changed passes through the tubes, and the changer fluid passes outside of the tubes. The tube sheets 46 and 47 form a lower casing for the lower bank of tubes, and the tube sheets 48 and 49 form an upper casing 52 outside of the upper bank of tubes. The tube sheets 47 and 48 form a manifold for the outlet 30.

Steam is supplied from the inlet valve 26 in parallel to the inlets 53 and 54 for the casings 50 and 52 which have outlets 55 and 56 leading to the outlet valve 28. The fuel oil being heated rises through the lower bank of tubes into the central manifold, and through the upper bank of tubes out into the upper portion of the tank 12. When suction is applied to the outlet 30,'the fuel oil is drawn into both ends of the shell, and passes through the respective banks of tubes into the central manifold and on through the outlet 30.

As shown in FIGURE the tubes are provided with internal fins 57 to increase the heat transfer rate. However the external or perforated fins shown in FIGURE 7 may be employed, and the FIGURE 7 arrangement may be internal or external or both.

In the modification shown in FIGURE 11, the shell comprises an inclined section 60 and a horizontal lower section 62 joined thereto. The outlet 30 is shown at the joint but may otherwise be located at a point intermediate the ends of the jointed shell, in order to be able to draw fluid from the lower part of the tank.

In the form shown in FIGURE 12, the vertical-shell section 64 is at right angles to the horizontal section 66, the vertical section may be rotated about the axes of the horizontal section 66 to any desired angle of inclination. The bundle of tubes 68 is slidably mounted in the vertical section 64 and connected to a cable 70 to raise the bundle for greater heat transfer when the tank is full.

In the modification shown in FIGURES 13 and 14, the vertical shell section 72 is joined by a collector box 73 to four horizontal sections 74 at right angles to each other and to the vertical section. The vertical shell section is provided with a movable closure 76, which may be closed by a cable 78 to prevent back flow of fluid.

What is claimed is:

1. Method of changing the temperature of a fluid in a chamber, which comprises passing fluid from said chamber into one end of an elongated cylindrical confining surface and through channel means therein toward the other end thereof, passing changer fluid through passage means inside said confining surface separate from said channel means, said confining surface having a lower end and a higher end, employing thermosiphon action to cause flow of the fluid being changed along said channel from one end toward the other of said confining surface, and withdrawing changed fluid from said channel means intermediate the ends of said confining surface, whereby such withdrawal draws fluid from said chamber into both ends of said confining surface.

2. Method as claimed in claim 1, in which the changed fluid is withdrawn through an outlet substantially equidistant from the ends of said confining surface, and flows in opposite directions from the respective ends of said confining surface toward said outlet.

3. Method as claimed in claim 1, in which the changed fluid withdrawn draws fluid from said chamber into the top of said confining surface down through said channel means, and also draws fluid from said chamber into the bottom of said confining surface and on up through said channel means toward said outlet.

4. Method as claimed in claim 1, in which the fluid to be temperature changed is viscous oil, the changer fluid is steam, and the changed fluid is withdrawn from an outlet intermediate the ends of said confining surface by suction.

5. Heat interchanger comprising a chamber containing fluid to be temperature changed, an outer tubular shell, means for supporting said shell inside said chamber, a plurality of substantially parallel tubes, means for mounting said tubes inside said shell and thereby forming inside said shell passage means for changer fluid and separate channel means for the fluid to be changed, said tubes and shell being mounted in position to provide a lower end and a higher end, whereby the fluid being changed flows into one end of said channel means and On toward the other end thereof, means for passing a changer fluid from outside said chamber through said passage means in the shell, and on outside of said chamber, said channel means having an outlet intermediate said lower end and said higher end, and means for withdrawing changed liquid through said outlet, whereby the-changed fluid withdrawn draws liquid from said chamber into both ends of said channel means toward said outlet.

6. Heat interchanger as claimed in claim 5, in which said tubes are flat coils connected to an inlet manifold and an outlet manifold and having return bends therebetween.

7. Heat interchanger comprising a chamber containing fluid to be temperature changed, an outer tubular shell, means for supporting said shell inside'said chamber, a plurality of substantially parallel tubes, means for mounting said tubes inside said shell and thereby forming inside said shell passage means for changer fluid and separate channel means for the fluid to be changed, said tubes and shell being mounted in inclined position, whereby the fluid being changed flows into one end of said channel means and out through the other end thereof, means for passing a changer liquid from outside said chamber through said passage means in the shell, and on outside said chamber, said channel means having an outlet spaced intermediate the ends of said shell, and means for withdrawing changed liquid through said outlet, whereby the changed fluid withdrawn draws liquidvfrom said chamber into the top of said shell down through said channel means and into the bottom of said shell up through said channel means toward said outlet.

8. Heat interchanger as claimed in claim 7, in which said tubes are flat coils having return bends and rectilinear portions having longitudinal fins.

9. Heat interchanger comprising a chamber containing fluid to be temperature changed, an outer tubular shell and an inner tubular core, means for supporting said shell inside said tank, a. plurality of substantially parallel tubes, means for supporting said tubes inside said shell and outside of said core and forming passage means for changer fluid and separate channel means for the fluid to be changed, means for passing changer fluid from outside said chamber through said passage means outside of said core and on outside of said chamber, said tubes and core and shell being mounted in position to provide a lower end and a higher end, and means for withdrawing changed fluid through said outlet and core, whereby fluid being changed flows into one end of said channel means toward the other ,end thereof, said channel means having an outlet into said core intermediate the ends thereof, whereby the changed fluid withdrawn through said outlet and core draws fluid from said chamber in through both ends of said shell.

10. Heat interchanger as claimed in claim 9, in which said changer fluid flows inside said tubes and said fluid to be changed flows outside of said tubes.

11. Apparatus for heating a liquid, comprising a tank containing the liquid to be heated, an outer tubular shell, means for supporting said shell inside said tank, a plurality of substantially parallel tubes, means for mounting said tubes inside said shell and thereby forming inside said shell passage means for heating medium and separate channel means for the liquid to be heated, means for passing a heating medium from outside of said tank through said passage means in said shell and on outside of said tank, said tubes and shell being mounted in position to provide a lower end and a higher end, whereby the liquid being heated rises from the lower toward the upper portion of said channel means, said channel means having an outlet through said shell spaced below the top thereof, and means for withdrawing heated liquid through said outlet, whereby the heated liquid being withdrawn draws liquid from said tank into the top of said shell down through said channel means and into the bottom of said shell up through said channel means toward said outlet.

12. Apparatus as claimed in claim 11, in which said shell comprises a lower portion and a higher portion joined end to end at an angle.

5 6 13. Apparatus as claimed in claim 12, in which said References Cited by the Examiner lower portion is horizontal.

14. Apparatus as claimed in claim 12, in which said UNITED STATES PATENTS higher portion is verticaL 1,198,536 9/ 1916I G Q 165-103 15. Apparatus as claimed in claim 14, in which a hun- 5 2308786 1/1943 Smlth 165 XR dle of tubes is slidably mounted in said vertical higher FOREIGN PATENTS 454,453 10/1936 Great Britain.

16. Apparatus as claimed in claim 14, in which the top of said vertical higher portion is provided with a ROBERT OLEARY Examiner movable closure to prevent back flow of fluid. 10 A. W. DAVIS, Assistant Examiner. 

1. METHOD OF CHANGING THE TEMPERATURE OF A FLUID IN A CHAMBER, WHICH COMPRISES PASSING FLUID FROM SAID CHAMBER INTO ONE END OF AN ELONGATED CYLINDRICAL CONFINING SURFACE AND THROUGH CHANNEL MEANS THEREIN TOWARD THE OTHER END THEREOF, PASSING CHANGER FLUID THROUGH PASSAGE MEANS INSIDE SAID CONFINING SURFACE SEPARATE FROM SAID CHANNEL MEANS, SAID CONFINING SURFACE HAVING A LOWER END AND A HIGHER END, EMPLOYING THERMOSIPHON ACTION TO CAUSE FLOW OF THE FLUID BEING CHANGED ALONG SAID CHANNEL FROM ONE END TOWARD THE OTHER OF SAID CONFINING SURFACE, AND WITHDRAWING CHANGED FLUID FROM SAID CHANNEL MEANS INTERMEDIATE THE ENDS OF SAID CONFINING SURFACE, WHEREBY SUCH WITHDRAWAL DRAWS FLUID FROM SAID CHAMBER INTO BOTH ENDS OF SAID CONFINING SURFACE. 